Which colleges offer merit scholarships?

A:

Quick Answer

Cooper Union, Rhodes College and Trinity University are particularly notable for their merit scholarships as of 2015, according to U.S. News & World Report. Each of the schools awarded merit scholarships to more than 40 percent of their undergraduate students in 2014-2015. Not all colleges in the U.S. offer merit-based aid to students, however, so it is important to talk to a prospective school's financial aid office before applying to find out what is available.

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New York City's Cooper Union awards half-tuition scholarships to all undergraduates. Among the Cooper Union students who received the aid in 2014-2015, 68 percent of the students demonstrated no financial need. On top of merit scholarships, Cooper Union also offers additional aid to students based on demonstrated financial need.

Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, offers merit awards to students based on individual talents and achievements. A total of 50.5 percent of the students in academic year 2014-2015 received merit scholarships without demonstrating any financial need. Rhodes College plans to offer seven different types of scholarships to incoming students in 2016-2017.

Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas, says that all undergraduate students who apply to the institution are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. The university determines these awards based on a student's official test scores and high school transcript information. Recipients of the Murchison Scholarship and other top students are invited to compete for the full-tuition Trinity Tower Scholarships during Trinity Tower Scholars Day.